[Prodigal Son]

To show he's not an enemy of faith, he sometimes tells them he's a choir member and the son of a Lutheran pastor.

LOL! 'Some of my best friends are Lutherans...'

[samtheman]

The problem: dry, poorly written textbooks that are an easy target for the pseudo-science crowd.

The solution: Gould, Gould, Gould, and more Gould. Augment (or even replace) the dry, insipid, boring poorly-written textbooks with:

The Panda's Thumb: More Reflections in Natural History

Hen's Teeth and Horse's Toes

Dinosaur in a Haystack : Reflections in Natural History

Eight Little Piggies: Reflections in Natural History

Bully for Brontosaurus: Reflections in Natural History

The Flamingo's Smile: Reflections in Natural History

Ever Since Darwin: Reflections in Natural History

Just to name a few.

Many of these books contain lively discussions of the points brought up by Creation Scientists and proponents of Intelligent Design, while continuing to teach extremely interesting details of biology.

If teachers have the right material, the challenges brought into the classroom by doubters-of-evolution can be fun, interesting, and rewarding for all students.

But teachers for the most part lack imagination and the textbooks are leaden, heavy, boring, poorly-written and dull.

[samtheman]

Why are students told that Darwin's theory of evolution is a scientific fact

Whoever wrote this sentence has no idea what a fact is. Or what a theory is. Or why facts and theories aren't in competition with each other. The dry leaden textbooks try to explain it, but Gould explains it brilliantly, in a way that students of any persuasion will remember.

[samtheman]

And one more thing about Gould: he doesn't put scientists up on a pedestal. He's just as critical of "conventional wisdom" among scientists --- past and present --- as he is of the nabobs who think they are saying something meaningful when they declare "evolution is a theory, not a fact".

[mlc9852]

How heartening to know kids these days aren't afraid to question evolution. I predict evolution will eventually go the way of the dinosaurs!

[shuckmaster]

Another day...

[jocon307]

What I didn't like about this article was the apparent view that teachers should never be challenged. The little mush-heads should just sit there an absorb whatever information the teacher provides and never question it in any way.

[conservativecorner]

"The intent is to plant seeds of doubt in the minds of students as to the veracity of Darwin's theory of evolution."


It may be that students have legitimate questions concerning evolution, but don't expect the MSM to report the truth. Isn't the reporter planting a seed of doubt with his readers when he questions the motives of the students?

[Physicist]

"Today there are many more arguments that kids bring to class, a whole fleet of arguments, and they're all drawn out of the efforts by different groups, like the intelligent design [proponents]."

Another child is prepared to bring her father's religious beliefs to school.

[knuthom]

That's because critics of Charles Darwin's theory of natural selection are equipping families with books, DVDs, and a list of "10 questions to ask your biology teacher."

What are they whining about? Having a list of questions they might be asked makes it easy for the teachers. They can prepare and will not be put on the spot. If they have answers for the questions, they will be ready. If they don't have answers, they can research them. A teacher should not be afraid of a few questions. If the theory cannot survive questions, it is not much good as a theory.

[redgolum]

One of the things that drove my teachers nuts is that I never just believed them if I had a problem. I would always ask "Why is this that way? What about this view?".

Nothing gets you in trouble faster than pointing out the ignorance of a teacher. I spent a lot of time in grade school suspended from after lunch recess because I would keep asking questions.

[steve-b]

Students are waiting with bated breath for other cabals of nitwits to invent similar objections to math, physics, history (OK, that one is already happening in the name of "political correctness), grammar, etc. Then, they can spend their days smack-talking and not have to learn a damn thing.

[AD from SpringBay]

It creates an uncomfortable atmosphere in the classroom, Williamson says - one that he doesn't like. "I don't want to ever be in a confrontational mode with those kids ... I find it disheartening as a teacher."

Yes, we must not have discourse with the students. They should just accept what the teacher is teaching. There should be no questioning the authorities. Up the soma and bring in tha tee-vees - the little kiddies are startin' to wake up.

[Aquinasfan]

"I don't want to ever be in a confrontational mode with those kids ... I find it disheartening as a teacher."

We certainly don't want children to learn how to think critically.

Now let's begin. Shut up and open your books to page ten...

[cookcounty]

"That's because critics of Charles Darwin's theory of natural selection are equipping families with books, DVDs, and a list of "10 questions to ask your biology teacher.""

And why can't the teachers pass the pop quiz?

[HairOfTheDog]

This really isn't new. In my science classes years ago, we discussed openly the various theories of our existence in class.

[MacDorcha]

Having given it some thought, this one, too, is ID Ping worthy!

[texpat72]

"...students think they're informed without having ever really read anything" on evolution or intelligent design, Mr. Wachholz says."

Those students have probably read the Bible, and have made their own decisions.

[Tribune7]

LOL. Why are teachers complaining about having engaged students?

[<1/1,000,000th%]

Even after decades of debate, Americans remain deeply ambivalent about the notion that the theory of natural selection can explain creation and its genesis.

Evolutionary biologists have never claimed to explain creation and its genesis. Makes you wonder if some of the creationists even know what they're complaining about.